Amended Return processing time

[StevenL]

I completed an amended return for a client this past summer which involved receiving a refund. Today, I received an email from her stating the IRS told her that they haven't even looked at the return and probably won't for at least 45 more days due to a high level of work.

Has anyone else experienced this problem with amended returns processing being delayed? Does anyone know what the current turn around time is for processing these returns?

I wonder if this will mean any delays in processing regular returns for this tax season or will these amended returns be delayed even more!

Thanks for any feedback you can offer

[ILLMAS]

There is something definitely wrong here, it doesn't take that long for them to enter a return into their system, it usually takes 6 to 8 weeks for them to process it. I do see this happening for a state return, I know for a fact the state of IL took 3 months to amend a tax return and another two to issue the refund. I would call them myself and find out whats going on, maybe the client just mailed it a couple weeks ago?

[MAMalody]

Most amended tax returns I have seen have taken 8 - 12 weeks to process. You did not mention what the total time would be from the the return was filed. You may have completed it in late summer (within the 12 weeks I mentioned earlier) but when did you client mail it in?

[taxit]

I have two amended returns filed in September 2011. Neither have been processed yet.

[michaelmars]

THERE are no time limits for them to review them but the good news is that they do pay interest. We still have some Madoff carrybacks pending but they are for very large amounts and with the current state of the US budget, they are in no rush to semd out money

[DougO]

My experience has been 6-8 weeks for Federal amended returns and normally only 4-6 weeks for the state of Nebraska. Had one filed in November that the Federal refund was received in less than a month. So if you have that long of a time frame (over 3 months) I would be calling the IRS to see what action is being taken.

[LisaAnn]

I did two amended returns for a client back in June 2011 and they were never processed by the IRS until early October 2011.

[joanmcq]

You can always check e-services and see when it was logged in. Then, it can take anywhere from 45 days to 6 months, depending on the backlog. When the FTHB credit hit, the IRS was backlogged even farther due to the high volume of amendments hitting at that time. The last one of those I filed was in October, for an original return, and the client still hasn't received her refund.

[jainen]

>>IRS was backlogged<<

Get used to it. In my opinion, it is unrealistic for the American public to demand lower taxes for smaller government, while expecting the same level of service.

[StevenL]

Thanks for all your feedback everyone. We originally filed the amended return back in June then the IRS wrote back asking for additional information which we sent in at the end of September so now we're just waiting from that point. It just seems like the IRS is backed up at this time so I told my client to just have a little patience for now.